A NAUTICAL cat who went missing while sailing round Britain with his owners has been returned to his ship after going AWOL for a week.

“Captain” Buxton had accompanied Helena and Steve Neal on their yacht Amalia for the epic trip, before disappearing at Lossiemouth harbour.

The 10-year-old British blue short-hair had overcome an aversion to water to join the couple for a 2,000-mile voyage to raise money for charity.

The Neals, from Whitstable in Kent, were heartbroken when they woke up on July 12 to find their pet missing.

The Neals, from Whitstable in Kent, were heartbroken when they woke up on July 12 to find their pet missing

They put up posters in Lossiemouth, posted appeals on the internet and spent two days searching before making the tough decision to sail on without Buxton.

But they were delighted when a Lossiemouth couple called to say Buxton had turned up in their kitchen. The couple, identified only as Graham and Lynne, offered to drive the 75 miles to Loch Ness to return him.

Mr Neal said: “He has lost a little weight and was looking a bit sorry for himself, but has settled back into his routine of eating and snoozing.”